Fall Issue, November 2019

Morrow Re:PortMorrow County High School Internship Program Takes Off

MARAD approval for Port of Morrow Barge Extension Service

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has approved the Port of Morrow’s Project Designation request for the “Port of Morrow Barge Service Extension”. Thirty-four projects have been approved under the Marine Highway Program and the Port of Morrow is one of only three projects on the West Coast.

The new designation allows the Port to pursue additional federal funding for infrastructure improvements needed to make the barge service extension a reality. Expansion of the existing service will leverage the underutilized Marine Highway 84 Columbia and Snake River System to reduce transportation costs, relieve rail and highway congestion through the Columbia Gorge, reduce emissions and fuel use, create jobs, and facilitate the movements of exports.

High school students in Morrow County have a unique opportunity to gain valuable work experience, get paid, and receive high school credit through a new High School Internship Program. It’s an experience that goes beyond traditional job shadows and bridges the gap between classroom education and real-world employment.

“We never actually connected the kids into the businesses,” recalls IMESD Superintendent, Mark Mulvihill. “That’s what’s unique here. We’ve had the classes. We’ve had the programs. But we’ve never ever gotten to the point where we’re actually having kids in businesses, hands-on experience [as] part of their school day.”

The program is the result of a brainstorm between Morrow County school districts, InterMountain Education Service District (IMESD), and Workforce Training at the Port of Morrow. The collaboration solves obstacles that previously stood in the way of paid internships for high school students.

Greg Grant at Heppner High School explains. “Two components that have put this over the top are the

coordination between the business and industry and the addition of money on both sides. IMESD’s involvement to bridge the gap with all the labor issues, all the workman’s comp issues, and things like that have simplifi ed it to the point where I think the kids are getting a much more real experience.” (Cont. pg. 3)

(Cont. pg. 2)

Operations Manager Eric Chick of Blue Mountain Manufacturing in Heppner advises intern Tryston Haskett.

Thinking Big: High, Wide, and Heavy CorridorThe Port of Morrow has long believed that investing in infrastructure is a critical component for diverse industry growth. With the receipt of the B.U.I.L.D. Grant (Dec. 2018) and the MARAD project designation (Aug. 2019), plans to extend new rail lines from the Union Pacifi c mainline to four Port of Morrow barge terminals and to improve Terminal 1 already have industry leaders thinking big.

The Columbia River High, Wide and Heavy Corridor Coalition is a partnership of public and private sector businesses and agencies working towards developing a route along the Columbia River to inland destinations for high, wide, and heavy cargo, such as components for wind energy, large equipment, and specialized machinery. The proposed corridor would capitalize on multi-modal transportation methods and create new economic opportunities in the Pacifi c Northwest.

“The upcoming barge to rail infrastructure improvements at the Port of Morrow is a game changer for the region and the associated supply chain allowing shippers to leverage the existing High, Wide, and Heavy Corridor with a true multimodal approach,” says Erik Zander, director of sales for Omega Morgan.

High, wide and heavy loads currently ship from overseas markets through Houston, Texas and are transported north to projects in the Midwest and Canada. Establishing a route through Columbia River ports would save shippers time and money with shorter transit times and reduced handling. A case study completed by Omega Morgan demonstrated a savings of 28 days and 6,208 miles using the Columbia River corridor.

“Our continued investment in rail infrastructure and storage capacity allows the Port to partner with companies like Omega Morgan on projects not only in our region, but in the Western U.S. and Canada,” says Ryan Neal, executive director for the Port of Morrow. “The BUILD Grant will create a unique opportunity for projects to unload at terminals with ocean-going vessel capacity and barge upriver to our terminals with the option to continue on rail or visa-versa for exports. As the focus on reducing carbon dioxide continues, utilizing barges on the river system will be a key component to decreasing the amount of emissions and congestion on our roadways.” (Find out more at: https://hwhcorridor.com/)

The Port partnered with many public and private entities on the project proposal. “We are incredibly thankful for the designation from MARAD and would like to thank Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden and Representative Greg Walden for all their support in helping secure this designation,” says Port of Morrow Executive Director Ryan Neal.

“Oregon’s coastal and inland ports support local economies across our state by providing the kinds of great jobs that people can raise their families on, and by making it easier to transport goods to and from our communities and across the world,” says Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley.

“The Columbia River system is a valuable asset for transporting wheat and other products from eastern Oregon to the world,” states Representative Greg Walden. “I applaud the Port’s efforts to maximize this resource and I am glad to have worked so closely with them to pursue Marine Highway status.”

The project was submitted under the America’s Marine Highway Program (AMHP) which authorizes the designation of Marine Highway Routes and Marine Highway Projects.

MARAD, Cont.

August 2019: Omega Morgan transferred a 507,000-pound transformer from the Coyote Springs Power Plant in Boardman to a barge for transport to Vancouver, Washington where it would meet a ship to carry the transformer overseas.

Oregon Public Ports Association Annual ConferenceOregon Public Ports Association (OPPA) members from across the state met at the Port of Morrow in early October for the OPPA Annual Conference. The annual conference is an opportunity for members to collaborate with peers from Oregon’s twenty-three ports about legislative advocacy, communication, and management practices. Attendees were also given a tour of the SAGE Center. “This is OPPA’s fi rst time holding the conference at the Port of Morrow,” says Ryan Neal, executive director at the Port of Morrow. “We are grateful for the opportunity to show them all Morrow County has to offer. “

Internship Program, Cont.

Upgrades are underway at the Port of Morrow South Lift Station, which processes wastewater from the Boardman Industrial Park. Two fi berglass tanks, 20 feet tall and 12 feet in diameter, are being installed near the existing station to replace an aging steel and concrete basin. The new tanks, crafted from helical wound fi berglass, are designed with longevity in mind and will not deteriorate when exposed to wastewater. The tanks were constructed by Orenco Composites in Roseburg, Oregon and shipped to Boardman by Fextex Systems Inc. Over the coming year, the South Lift Station’s pump systems will also be upgraded.

When complete, the improvements will boost effi ciency and increase capacity for wastewater management in the Boardman Industrial Park.

The funding for the program comes from the Morrow Education Foundation via the Columbia River Enterprise Zone II.

“I think the Morrow County internship program is a great example of how an enterprise zone can really have an impact on a community,” says Workforce Training Manager Kalie Davis. “By bringing in these funds to help support this program it’s really helping students develop opportunities and careers that they wouldn’t have had an opportunity to pursue. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for businesses to connect with students who we hope will return and work for many of these companies in Morrow County.”

The chance to get hands-on experience is a valuable learning tool that can’t be replicated in a classroom. Students can explore career options within their scope of interest, which can confi rm if it is one they want to pursue after graduation.

“I thought about doing special needs teaching, but when I started the internship program at the hospital, it really opened my eyes at being a nurse and what other jobs I could look at doing,” says Sydney Wilson, an intern at Morrow County Health District.

“It’s been eye opening because I’ve wanted to be a welder and now, I have a chance to learn what it’s going to be like,” Tryston Haskett says of his internship at Blue Mountain Manufacturing in Heppner. “It’s a good learning experience. It gives you all the skills you need to learn, like welding, fabrication, or just being able to read blueprints. It’s a lot of fun.”

“Our hope for our students is that they get real life experience and the benefi ts that a real job does for them. It gets them out of the classroom ‘sit and get’ information mode to them benefi tting from a real-life experience and all that that brings with it. It’s a fabulous opportunity for our kids,” concludes Ione Principal Rollie Marshall.

Fiberglass Basins Installed

Intern Sydney Wilson looks on as Lauren Crum, RN at Morrow County Health District uses a hospital computer.

Plant Safety Manager Anduyen Ta, mentors RHS intern Ricardo Davila at Lamb Weston in Boardman.

RHS Career DayCareer Day is an opportunity for high school students to explore their interests and passions. Riverside High School students spent the morning of September 18 job shadowing professionals in the region. It was an opportunity to ask questions and to discover potential career options. The morning concluded with the Boardman Chamber Luncheon with special guest speaker Craig Reeder, who shared his career path and the life lessons he learned along the way.

Pacifi c Northwest Waterways Association Annual ConventionPacifi c Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA) celebrated its 85th year during the 2019 Annual Convention in Vancouver, Washington. The popular annual convention, held each year in October, provides an opportunity for members to elect the Board of Directors, approve policies and projects, celebrate awards, and meet with federal and regional partners to prepare for advocacy efforts in the coming year.

“The waterways of the Columbia and Snake Rivers are key to our regional economic sustainability,” states Ryan Neal. “PNWA’s mission and collaboration to keep the waterways viable are something we strongly support.”

PNWA has been a regional leader since 1934, supporting its members by working with the government and decision makers on issues surrounding navigation, transportation, trade, tourism, energy, and environmental sustainability in the Pacifi c Northwest.

Senior Class President Connor Graham addresses the audience during the Boardman Chamber Lunch.